Spring shackle



April 18, 1933. v w. c. BETZ 1,904,264

SPRING SHACKLE Original Filed Oct. 28, 192

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNI/TED stars-s PATENT OFFICE-- WILLIAM c. BETZ, or NEW BRITAIN, ooivnnorrour, Assrenon T THE rnrivrn nneng ING COMPANY, on NEW narrenv,connncrrcur, A conron'erron or colvlvncrronm v srnrne sHAOKLE Original application filed October 28, 1924, Serial No. 746,328. Divided and this application filed September 11, 1930.

My invention relates toan anti-friction spring shackle construction. This application is a division of my application, Serial N 0. 746,328, filed October 28, 1924, patented March 31, 1931, No. 1,798,864. n

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a shackle of few parts, which will be cheap to manufacture, simple iilconstruction and yet sturdy and servicea l o p I It is another object to provide improved lubricant retaining and dust excluding means for a shackle of the character indicated.

Other objects are to provide improved details looking to simplicity, cheapness and serviceability, as will hereinafter appear.

Briefly stated, in a'preferred formsof the invention I employ a pair of shackle links which may be formed of pressed metal.- Each link is provided with spaced apart raceways, which are preferably formed directly on the links. Bearing means, such as pins, to be car 'ried by a frame and a spring are provided with raceways complementary to the raceways on the shackle links, and anti-friction bearing members, suchas b-alls,-are interposed between the complementary raceways. The links are suitably positioned relatively to each other anddust is excluded from and lubricant retained on the anti-friction bearing members by means which may include a dust plate covering the raceways or anti-friction bearing members of each shackle link; i

In the drawing, which shows, for illustrafive P p nly, preferred forms of the invention Fig. 1' is a fragmentary end View of the frame and spring connected together by means of a preferred form of shackle, parts being shown in section to illustrate interior 7 construction;

Fig; 2 is anisometric inner view of a shack 181111]: of Fig. 1;

F ig. 3 is an isometric View of the lubricant retaining and dust excluding means illus-. trated in Fig. 1;

r Fig. is a longitudinal, substantially central, sectional view of a modified form of link; i 1

racc'ways 1010 of the links.

S'eria1No.4=81,084-. I

Fig. 5 is an outside view of'the link shown in Fig. 4;

F ig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modification illustrating a link having a raceway thereon but formed on a separate ring or cup. In said drawing, 1 indicates aportion of in side elevation a frame-or the like, while 2.indicates a porin the bores or eyes of the frame and spring 1 in any suitable manner. a

' A pair of'shackle links 7.7, which are preferably duplicates of each other, serve .to connect the frame-and spring. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 each link is formed of pressed metal, providing an intermediate link portion 8 having upstanding flanges 9-9 at opposite sides, thus forming a substantially channel-shaped link. This generally channel-shaped form of link is quite strong and rigid. The link is provided with spaced apart raceways 1010 formed directly thereon, in the form shown, at opposite ends of the link 7 The raceways are preferably in substantially cup-shaped'portions, the flange or edge portions 11-11 of which'preferably merge into flange portions 99, so that there is a continuous flange about the entire link.

Anti-friction bearing 'members, such as'balls 12+125jare interposed between the complee mentary raceways of the pins 3 5 and the may be held together or in position by means of a through-bolt 13, having a head 14 at one end and a 1111 015 at the opposite end. I prefer to space the links apart by means such as asle'eve 13 interposed between the links 77-7 and preferably surrounding the through-bolt In order to retain lubricant on and exclude dust from the anti friction bearing members I mayemploy means extending between the The links .77

links. In the form shown I employ a. plate 16, preferably fitting within the channelshaped intermediate portion of the link and extending over the raceways 10-10 and balls at each end of the link. The plate 16 is provided with passages which, as illustrated, are apertures for the passage of pins 35. A resilient ringl!- may surround each of the pins 3-5 and, if desired, may beheld in place in cups 18 on the ends of the plate 19 which, with the plate 16, may be sandwiched in between the spacer 13 and the links, so that when the: shackle isassembled all parts will be properly positioned. The shackle links and plates are provided with appropriate passages for the through-bolt 13.

It will be seen that the raceways may be formed directly upon the links 77 by the stamping or pressing operation, and the raceways 1010 may or may not be finished, as by grinding.

Lubricant will be retained on and dust will be excluded from the anti-friction bearing members by the means heretofore disclosed, so that, with the space about the anti-friction bearing members filled with grease, there will be little likelihood of the bearing ever running dry. The parts are all simple and relatively. cheap to manufacture.

In the form of link shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the raceways 1010 may be formed as heretofore indicated directly upon the links. In addition to the inwardly extending flanges, such as 9, at opposite sides of the central portion 8 there may be a double fiangedportion20 extending oppositely to the side flanges, .such as 9. Thus, the link may be strengthened, if found desirable.

Insteadof forming the raceways directly upon .the surfaces of the links, as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 4c and 5' I may provide the raceways in the form of a cup or ring 21, properly seated in each link, as disclosed in. Fig. 6. The construction otherwise may be the'same asheretofore described.

It willbe seen that I have provided a. relatively simple anti-friction spring shackle, the parts of which may be easily and cheaply manufactured. The shackle will be strong and durable and lubricant will be effectively retained.

While the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail and various forms illustrated, I. wish'it understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

I claimr 1. In an anti-friction spring shackle, a pair of shackle links each having spaced apart bearing raceways formed directly thereon, anti-friction bearing members on said raceways, means to be carried by a frame and spring and having raceways complementary to said=firstmentioned raceways and engaging said anti-friction bearing members thereon, and a plate for each of said shackle 'links and having parts extending over said anti-friction bearing members of each of said raceways on said link.

2. In an anti-friction spring shackle, a pair of shackle links having spaced. apart antifriction bearing member raceways, means to be carried by a frame and a spring and having raceways complementary to said first mentioned raceways, anti-friction bearing members interposed between said complementary raceways, and a plate for each said shackle link and extending over. the anti-friction bearing members of each of the raceways of said link.

3. In an anti-friction spring; shackle, a pair of shackle linkshaving spaced apart raceways, means to be carried by a spring and frame and having raceways complementary to said raceways'of said shackle links, antifriction bearing members interposed between said complementary. raceways, a dust.- plate for each said shackle link extending-between said raceways, and meansfor spacing: said links apart and holding the same together, said means serving'to retain said dustplate in place.

4. In an anti-friction spring shackle, a pair of shackle linkshaving; spaced apart raceways, means tobe carried' by a spring and frame and having raceways complementary to said first mentioned raceways, anti-friction bearing members interposed be tween the complementary. raceways, dust ex: eluding and lubricant retaining means for said anti-friction bearing members, and means for positioning said shackle links relatively to each other 'andfor positioning said dust excluding means.

5. In an anti-friction spring; shackle links having spaced apart bearing raceways thereon, means to be carried'byza spring and a frame and'having raceways complementary to said firstmentionedracee ways, anti-friction bearing members interposed between the complementary raceways, a plate for eachsaidshackle link and having an aperture therein. substantially concentric with the raceways of each saidlink, and means for positioning said links relatively to each other and for holding said'. plates in place. I i

6. In. an anti-friction spring shackle, a pair of substantially channel shaped' links having spaced apart bearing raceways, a plate in the channel portion of: each ofsaid links and extending over said'racew-ays, each said plate having an aperture substantially concentric with the raceways of said links,

means to be carried by a spring and frame and having raceways thereon compl mentary to the raceways of said' shackle l1nksandiextending through the apertures-1n each said plate, anti-friction bearing members interandlubricant: retaining shackle,

posed between the complementary raceways, and means for positioning said shackles.

7. In an anti-friction spring shackle, a pair of shackle links having spaced apart raceways, means to be carried by a spring and frame and having raceways complemeans for positioning said links and holding said plate means in place.

8. In an anti-friction spring shackle, a pair of shackle links having spaced apart raceways, anti-friction bearing memberson said raceways, a plate extending from one raceway to the other, said plate having an aperture substantially concentric with each said raceway, pin means to be carried by a spring, pin means'to be carried by a frame, said pin means extending through the apertures in said plate and engaging the anti-' friction bearing members on said raceways, a tubular spacer member interposed between said shackle links and engaging said plate, and a through-bolt extending through said links and through said tubular spacer member for drawing said links together, whereby said shackle links will be held in position and said plates will likewise be held in position by said tubular spacer member.

9. In an anti-friction spring 'sha-ckle, a pair of shackle links having spaced apartraceways, anti-friction bearing members on said raceways, a plate extending along each of said shacklelinks and over the raceways thereon, means to be carried by a frame and a spring and having raceways complementary to said first mentioned raceways, anti-friction bearing members interposed between the complementary raceways, said plate having passages for said means to be carried by a frame and spring,and means forpositioning said shackle links. I

10; In an anti-friction spring shackle, a pair of shackle links having spaced apart raceways formed directly thereon, anti-friction bearing members on said raceways, means to be carried by a frame and spring and having raceways complementary to said I first mentioned raceways, anti-friction bearing members interposed between the complementary raceways, and means for excluding dust from and retainin lubricant on said anti-friction bearing members. 7

.11. In an anti-friction shackle link, a

pressed metal shackle link'having'bearing raceways formed directly thereon, anti friction bearing members engaging said raceways, said links each having asubstantially channel-shaped portion intermediate said raceways, means to ,becarried by a frame and to said: first mentioned raceways, anti-fric tion bearing members interposed between the complementary raceways, means for holding said shackle links relatively to each other, and means'for retaining lubricant onand exeluding dust from said anti-friction bearing members. 12. In an anti-friction 7 pair of shackle links having anti-friction bearing member raceway cups formed directly thereon and spaced from each other, anti friction bearing members on saidraceway cups, said links each having a'substantially channel-shaped portion intermediate said raceway cups, plate means seated said substantially channel-shaped portion; of each link and having outer portions extending over said raceway cups, and means'for holding said links in the position'relatively to each other. I 1 13. In an anti-friction spring shackle, a pair of shackle links having spaced apart raceways, anti-friction bearing members thereon, plate means extending; over the antifriction bearing members, said plate means having pin passages therein substantially concentric with said raceways, pin means to be carried by a spring and frame and ex spring shackle, a V

means, including av plate,extending between the raceways of each said link and extending thereover and having a passage therein a djacent each said raceway for permitting the passage of said means to be carried by a spring and frame.

15. A lubricant retaining and dust excluding means for a spring shackle, including an elongated plate member having spaced apart passages therein, and yielding rings adjacent. said passages.

16'. A lubricant retaining and dust excludv ing means fora spring shackle, includinga plate having spaced apart passages therein,

a yielding dust ring adjacent each of said passages, and cupmeans for holding each of. said resilient rings. v

17. Ina lubricant retaining and dust eX-. eluding means for a spring shackle, a pair of plates having alined passages therein, and

a yieldingv ring interposed; between said plates.

spring and having raceways complementary 18. 'A lubricant retaining and dust excluding means for. a, spring 'shackle, including a, pair/ofspacedapart cup members, yielding rings carried bysaid cup members, and a, plate: having" spaced apart apertures substantially concentric With said yielding rings.

19. A lubricant retaining and dust excluding means for a spring shackle, including a plate having spaced apart rounded portions, and yielding rings seated in saidrounded portions;

20. A shackle link, comprisinga substantiallychannel-shaped member having antifriction bearing memberraceways formed directly thereon and'spaced from each other.

21. In a spring connection, a pair ofsheet metal members having opposed raceWa-ys for, anti-friction bearing members formed direct- 1y thereon, anti friction bearing members on said raceways, and means haw'ng raceways complementary tosaid first mentioned race- Ways andengaging said anti-friction bearing members.

VILLIAM C. BETZ. 

